Family mourns loss of young man found murdered on Balmoral Street

A makeshift memorial took the place of police tape and cruisers Sunday.

Flowers, candles and a family photo now lay along a fence at a home on Balmoral Street.

Saturday Winnipeg police found the body of 22-year-old Johnathen Felix laying in the yard between the two homes in the 200 block of Balmoral.

"I couldn't leave without -- this is my way of saying goodbye," said his aunt, Dolly Felix.

Johnathen had just finished school in British Columbia and had been dabbling in the modeling industry before his murder.

"My nephew was in no gang whatsoever. He didn't deserve this," Dolly said.

The family and the police have not yet said how the man was killed, but residents in the area said they heard gunshots the afternoon Johnathen was killed.

"Someone had called in about gunshots, and police had kind of done a cursory look around – hadn't seen anything," said Anita Mallatratt, who lives in the area. That was just hours before Johnathen's body was found.

Johnathen's family is angry that it took so long for police to find him.

"I'm upset that he stayed out there that long – that nobody found him sooner," said Dolly.

The Winnipeg police homicide unit is currently investigating. "We're looking to gather as much information as possible to seek out the individual or individuals responsible for this offence and really bring that evidence before a judge and before a court," said Const. Natalie Aitken.

On Monday, police said the cause of death has not yet been determined, but investigators believe the victim died from an injury consistent with a gunshot wound.

"I hope whoever's the culprit they get down to the bottom of it," said Johnathen's uncle, Hector Felix.

Until then, the family said, they will pray and honour a life that was cut short.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.

-- with a report from CTV's Rajeev Dhir

Photos

Johnathen Felix was found murdered in the yard of a home on Balmoral Avenue. Before his death he was working as a model. (Image from Johnathen Felix's Facebook page)

Winnipeg police are investigating a murder after a man was found lying dead in the yard between these two homes on Balmoral Street.